Radioactive 'Fiestaware'

Starting at: $25.00

Radioactive 'Fiestaware'

Popular in the 1930s through 1960s, Fiestaware, Homer Laughlin and a couple other manufacturers produced ceramic plates, cups and other dinnerware items were available with a bright red-orange glaze. The way they obtained this unique color was to add Uranium compounds to the ceramic glaze mix. It succeeded in producing a new and attractive color, but the dinnerware was quite radioactive. Although there is no immediate harm to using the dinnerware for eating & drinking, it was surmised that over extended periods of time, with sufficiently acid foods and liquids, some of the Uranium compounds could possibly leach out into the food. The glaze was eventually discontinued, but you can occasionally find Fiestaware (and a couple other brands of the time) dinnerware that was made with Uranium based glaze. Some are quite radioactive, measuring 30,000 CPM. The glaze color became nicknamed 'radioactive red' and these radioactive antiques are getting rare and difficult to find. Great for radiation demonstrations, classroom/educational use, as a geiger counter test source, and certainly an item for collectors. We typically have Coffee Cups, Large & Small Plates in stock. Depending on availability, we may have bowls, platters and other pieces (call or email if you're looking for something in particular). These may be Fiestaware, Homer Laughlin, or other brands available during the 1960s (they all look virtually identical).